Joachim Löw will not take Kevin Kuranyi to the World Cup - but insisted
their high-profile spat 19 months ago was not a factor in the decision.

The Germany coach told the Schalke striker in a phone call on Monday he would not be included in the provisional squad for the World Cup he names next Thursday.

Kuranyi has been ostracised by Löw since storming away from the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund before the final whistle after being omitted from the matchday squad for the qualifier against Russia in October 2008.

His fine form for Schalke this season - his 18 Bundesliga goals have helped guarantee the Royal Blues second place and Champions League football next term - led to calls for a recall, with even Franz Beckenbauer urging Löw to swalLöw his pride and take the Brazil-born forward to South Africa.

"The disciplinary incident in October 2008 was not a consideration recently," Löw said. "It would have been no problem for us to give him a new chance in the national team.

"However, after consideration among our coaching staff we came to the conclusion that we had other ideas, tactically and personnel-wise, for the composition of the World Cup squad.

"This I discussed frankly with Kevin, who has had a strong season and whom I think is a player of sound character."

The decision to leave Kuranyi out of his squad is a brave one by Löw.

He was the second-highest German in the scoring chants, with three goals fewer than Bayer Leverkusen's Stefan Kiessling, who has been capped only three times, and was disappointed not to be going to the World Cup.

"Like every footballer, I dreamed from when I was a little boy of being able to play in a World Cup," the striker, who also missed out on a place in Jurgen Klinsmann's squad for the 2006 tournament, said.

"This dream has now burst for a second time. Therefore it is clear that this decision makes me very sad.

"I gave my best. I know that I blundered when I left the stadium at half-time against Russia. Therefore I apologised for that personally and publicly. And I have also given everything sporting-wise this season.

"Unfortunately that has not sufficed. But it is the decision of national coach, and I accept and respect it. Of course I wish the coach and the team the best for South Africa."

Meanwhile, midfielder Simon Rolfes will not play at the World Cup because he is not recovered from knee surgery.

The 28-year-old Bayer Leverkusen captain, who has been struggling for fitness since undergoing surgery in January, called Loew to tell him he could not take part in South Africa next month.